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“He advocated for exploring the possibilities of a career in accounting to the entire class,” says Khaled Alkurd. “I took him up on that, and I have been very happy ever since.”
After taking the Survey of Accounting 203 course with George Mason University alumnus Muhammad Awais, BS Accounting ‘13, MS Accounting ‘14, an adjunct instructor at the Costello College of Business, Khaled Alkurd knew everything he needed to know to switch his area of study from marketing to accounting.
“He advocated for exploring the possibilities of a career in accounting to the entire class,” says Alkurd. “I took him up on that, and I have been very happy ever since.”
Alkurd continues to excel in his accounting studies, planning to graduate with his undergraduate degree in the fall of 2025 and with his MS in Accounting in the spring of 2026, through the Bachelor's Accelerated Master's (BAM) Program.
Further boosting his resume and job prospects, he was named a PCAOB scholar following his spring 2025 semester. “It is something that means a lot to me and helps with my confidence and assurance to know that, indeed, auditing is a field that is a good fit for me,” he says.
The Accounting 461 course and the way it was taught by Ethan Kinory, an instructional assistant professor in accounting at Costello, was the most significant factor in changing Alkurd’s interest from the tax side of accounting to auditing. With Kinory’s guidance, he found that he had a knack for inspecting details for accuracy. “I believe he is a remarkable professor,” says Alkurd. “He cares deeply about his students.” Though Accounting 461 has had, perhaps, the biggest impact so far, each class has contributed more to Alkurd’s understanding, growth, and ambitions. “My experience has been excellent,” he says. “The entire faculty is extremely supportive. They have all been amazing in their own ways and rights.”
Ethan Kinory was also the one who recommended to Alkurd that he run for president of George Mason’s chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international organization for accounting, finance, and information systems majors that he had already been heavily involved in. It is through Beta Alpha Psi that he got connected with Baker Tilly for an internship, and it helped him secure the PCAOB scholarship as well.
In addition to serving as president of Beta Alpha Psi in the fall, Alkurd will be the student ambassador for the MS in Accounting program, a role he’s very much looking forward to. "I'm excited to share my passion for accounting and the incredible opportunities available within the MS program with prospective students," he says. Costello’s student ambassadors are exceptional students who embody the values of leadership, community engagement, and professional excellence. Having gotten so much out of his Costello experience already, he is excited to lead in these extracurriculars and help others.
Khaled Alkurd is making the most of his opportunities at the Costello College of Business by being highly engaged. “If you put your best foot forward, if you attend and apply yourself, you will succeed,” he says. “There are resources available. You just have to show the engagement and you’ll be rewarded tremendously.” In the future, Alkurd plans to stay in the region and work at a large corporate firm, possibly one of the Big Four firms. He aims to leverage his strong academic foundation, leadership experience, and newfound PCAOB scholar status to contribute to complex financial audits and make a significant impact in the accounting profession.